Here is a dynamic exercise that any staff meeting could benefit from…
Best bits speed coaching
One of my secondary school clients put together a whole school staff meeting as an early step in to developing a coaching culture in her school. Positivity was encouraged as was focusing departmental teams on their strategic developmental needs.
For the last activity all staff were asked to write down three things they are best at. After verification and encouragement from their peers, staff were then arranged in two lines standing facing each other. They were given a minute each to describe to a ‘prospective learning partner’ their best bits before a bell rang and everyone moved on a place.
Afterwards several teachers commented that they felt great repeating over again their best bits and most left happier than when they had arrived. The school also benefitted from more staff knowing who was ‘expert’ at what.
How would you use ‘best bits speed coaching’ in your school?
What has gone down well at your staff meetings?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is so true! Never in schools I have worked in did anyone say ‘hey youre really good at XXXX’ there is a culture of negativity in schools, it is wrapped up with target setting and professional development which tends to have negative based targets and goals. By this I mean: you will improve XXXX. There are many people in schools up and down the country who are experts in particular areas. It has not been until I left full time teaching that I have been told ‘hey Tim you are really good at XXXX will you come and do this for us’. Its totally shocking that people cannot praise people when they are in an organisation, they wait until they are no longer there!
Education needs to adopt a positive approach to it staff as well as its children. This has to start with Heads who verbally bash the staff room. I have heard that staff in one school that I am associated with who regularly berates staff at the start and end of every term! He must know he does it and the reaction from the staff is so negative. Heads need to keep thinking how they would feel if people berated them on a regular basis.
There is work to do here and Hannah and those like her have a huge job to do.
Great to know that I am on the right track.
Thanks Tim
Hannah